January 2013: New Projects Portfolio

New high school football stadium touches down at Texas school district; botanical gardens visitors center achieves net-zero energy status; and child care center rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina damage.

January 04, 2013 |

By Amy McIntosh, Associate Editor

New high school football stadium touches down at Texas school district

Allen (Texas) Independent School District’s Eagle Stadium debuted to a sold-out crowd last August. The $60 million football stadium was designed by PBK Architects and built by Pogue Construction. Construction began on the 18,000-seat stadium in 2010. It features a 38-foot-wide high-definition video screen and a 75-foot Daktronics scoreboard. The field is surfaced in NaturalGrass Matrix turf. The facility also includes an 11,256-sf weight room and an indoor golf practice area.

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Botanical gardens visitors center achieves net-zero energy status

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Bosarge Family Education Center in Boothbay, Maine, has become the first nonresidential development in Maine to achieve net-zero energy status. After a year of operation, the LEED Platinum, 8,000-sf visitors’ center, designed by Maclay Architects and Scott Simons Architects, produces almost 30% more energy than it uses. The excess energy is used to supplement other power needs throughout the botanical gardens. Also on the Building Team: Fore Solutions (green building consultants), Allied Engineering (mechanical/electrical), H.P. Cummings (construction manager), Bensonwood (building shell construction), and Becker Structural Engineers.

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Child care center rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina damage

Children’s Place Developmental Preschool and Child Care in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The ground-up reconstruction of the school started in 2011 and was completed last August. AGL Architecture & Interior Design conceived the 3,500-sf space, built on a $500,000 budget, as a playhouse-like setting. The preschool’s geometrically shaped windows were placed at a child’s height to give the children a view to the outside. Construction South was the general contractor. Raymond Canzoneri & Associates was MEP engineer.

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Century-old university building earns gold by going green

A renovated visitors’ center and administrative building on the campus of Loyola University in New Orleans has earned LEED Gold certification. Designed by Mathes Brierre Architects, the upgrade includes green features that have provided the 101-year-old Thomas Hall with a 30% savings in energy and an overall cost savings of 27% since the renovation. Twenty percent of materials within the building contain recycled content. Use of native plants and high-efficiency plumbing fixtures led to a 47% reduction in water use. Landis Construction Co. served as general contractor.

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Residential development provides support, privacy for tenants

Narford Road, a 62-unit housing development in the Hackney borough of London, is a new project from Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects. The development, located on a former industrial site, includes Salvesen House, an 18-bedroom care and support facility for residents with mild learning disabilities. Timber screens and high-level windows maintain a level of privacy, and, aside from ground-floor vehicle access to the wheelchair-accessible units, the site is entirely car-free. The Building Team also included BPP Construction Consultants, Mullaley and Company Ltd. (contractor), and MESH Landscape Architects. The owner is One Housing Group.

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Medical center to offer scenic views to enhance treatment options

Gilbane Building Co. recently completed construction on the 366,000-sf LEED-certified Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in East Norriton, Pa. The 146-bed facility, designed by Perkins+Will, provides cardiovascular, orthopedic, women’s health, critical care, and outpatient medical services. An entire floor is dedicated to mother and infant services. A five-story atrium adds natural daylight to the space and provides views to the neighboring Norristown Farm Park. Hammes Company served as engineer. +